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Your Views Sunday, Dec. 16

“Data finds buildings inefficient, underused” (News, Dec. 10) comports well with my own admittedly rough analysis of school district spending in Oklahoma. Complaints about the number of small districts are based on the idea that reducing the number of district administrations will save money. This seemingly common-sense notion matches what economists call “economies of scale” — that getting larger brings down average costs. But the discussion ignores “dis-economies of scale” — that getting too big increases average costs, which is what has happened in Oklahoma City.

Only a dozen school districts have almost 40 percent of Oklahoma's students. They spend almost as much per student as the 300 small districts that have only 12 percent of Oklahoma's students. On average, the dozen largest school districts spend the least on instruction of any other size class of school districts that I have looked at (up to 500; 500 to 1,000; 1,000 to 10,000; and over 10,000 students). We Oklahoma taxpayers stand to save $200 million more from breaking up the state's huge districts to have between 2,500 and 5,000 students than from consolidating little ones, especially given that it will never make sense to consolidate some districts.

Some consolidation might well be worthwhile, but many are being distracted by a mouse when there is an elephant in the room.

Byron Schlomach, Oklahoma City

Schlomach is director of the 1889 Institute (www.1889institute.org).

Heard it all before

You have to be older to remember that back in 1975, in the middle of an OPEC-driven fuel shortage, many scientists were going on and on about the “cooling of the earth,” “freezing in the dark” and, as one popular magazine trumpeted on its cover, “The Coming Ice Age” (complete with artwork depicting an iceberg toppling a New York skyscraper). My personal favorite was the widely stated prediction that the earth would have no petroleum resources remaining by the year 2000. All of this was coming out of a certain segment of the “scientific” community, and yes, there were naysayers and sceptics back then, too.

Now here we are in 2018, not 45 years later (a blink of an eye in geologic time), dealing with “global warming,” listening to the same experts predicting doom and gloom. I've stopped wondering about their credentials — now I'm starting to wonder about their motives.

Jim McCauley, Edmond

An important conversation

A loaded handgun was discovered at Edmond North High School on Dec. 5. Students spoke up. Teachers and administrators listened. Police officers intervened. And everyone got home safely. But questions remain, and answers extend beyond the classroom.

No child who engages in gun violence, or threatens to, just “happens” to have a weapon. Adults — intentionally or unintentionally, legally or illegally — provide access to guns. Schools and law enforcement handle the situation as best they can. But they shouldn't have to do it alone. Our role, as a community, is to prevent the next one. Gun owners or not, gun violence affects us all. And there are ways we can work to change that:

• If you see something, say something. Anyone who warns of danger and is taken seriously can save lives.

• Keep unloaded guns separate from ammunition and locked away from children and adolescents, people with Alzheimer's or dementia, and anyone suffering from depression.

• Discuss gun issues honestly and respectfully, with people who look and think like you and people who don't — kids and the elderly, family, coworkers, friends and strangers. Agree to disagree if you need to, but keep the conversation going.

(Story continued below...)

• Seek help and support. From doctors, mental health providers, teachers, neighbors, clergy and law enforcement. The only dumb question is the one we don't ask. If we share responsibility for a problem, we have a better chance of solving it.

Beckie Bigler, Edmond

Notable anniversary

Monday marks the 74th anniversary of the loss of "The Tulsamerican," which was the last B-24 Liberator heavy bomber built at the Douglas aircraft assembly plant in Tulsa during World War II. My friend, Val Miller, was the substitute bombardier on this warplane when it was ambushed by the German Luftwaffe at the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. Seven of the 10 aircrew survived the impact into the Adriatic Sea. Val was the last remaining survivor in 2014, when The Oklahoman wrote an excellent front-page article about his war story and included a 7-minute video interview on NewsOK.com. Two years ago, Lone Wolf Media (located in South Portland, Maine) interviewed Val in his home in Oklahoma City for the PBS series NOVA, which recently aired "Last B-24" on OETA. This fascinating documentary, which honors Val, can also be watched on PBS.org and YouTube. Unfortunately, Val died less than a month after he was interviewed for NOVA. We are losing our “Greatest Generation” at an alarming rate, which was made more evident by the recent loss of George H.W. Bush.

Cole Herndon, Oklahoma City

Trade war fallout

A trade war between the United States and China could threaten the health of U.S. citizens. I was getting a prescription filled recently from Walmart. When I called to check the status, I was informed the drug had been placed on back order and may not be available this month. Luckily, Walgreens had the pills in stock. I was informed by their pharmacist that they have been experiencing a major shortage in many medications and a lot of this is being caused because the pills they receive or their ingredients are shipped from China. I have read that the FDA is posting a current list of drug shortages and is trying to assist in filling the gap.

If the trade war continues, it can become a serious threat to the health of American citizens and could force many to seek drugs from either Canada or Mexico.

Edward Roberts, Yukon

An obvious ‘meaningful solution'

“Finding new use for closed school” (ScissorTales, Dec. 8) says Hobby Lobby promised to come up with a plan to for a “meaningful, long-term future for the (St. Gregory's University) property.” If Hobby Lobby had loaned the university the $12.5 million it was seeking instead of “bargain hunting" during the final stages of the university's liquidation, the 122-year-old Catholic university would still be in operation. That should have been an obvious "meaningful solution."

Chris Mauldin, Oklahoma City

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Your View -- Letter to the Editor

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